Feeler gauges, also known as thickness gauges or feeler gages, are a crucial hand-held set of tools designed to measure the miniature proximate gap widths between two parts or elements. These gauges feature various specified thick metal strips known as leaves or blades. The blades are constructed from durable and robust stainless steel and are resistant to rust. The strips are inserted into given gaps to check which one suits the desired opening dimensions.
Furthermore, each strip is supplied with resultant readings in millimeters. In addition, feeler gages are suited for hard-to-reach areas with robust flexibility where other measuring devices are hard to reach.
What are the essential components of feeler gauges?
The typical gauges are comprised of:
- Case – The case is designed to protect the leaves of the blades and offer compact storage in an intact position. These are made from steel or plastic materials.
- Leaves or blades are thin metal strips with a fixed thickness range.
- Locking device- serves as a blade locking system to remove or attach blades in case of damage or operation in hard-to-reach areas.
Different types of feeler gauges:
A feeler gauge is found in a wide variety of types, such as:
- Straight lead feeler gauge
These gauges are supplied with blades that are consistently parallel or straight.
These gauges feature blades that thin out towards the tip.
Distinguished from standard gauges, they have two ends; one is thicker while the other is thinner. The thinner part is capable of going “Go,” whereas the alternate cannot go “NoGo” into the gap.
Offset gauges are ideal for motor vehicle applications and hard-to-reach areas. They are designed so the leaves bend towards the tip for easy integration into determined areas.
These gauges are free, and each end can be utilized for applications.
These gauges can be used with both ends for imperial and metric measurement.
What are the applications of feeler gauges?
A feeler gauge; a linear measurement tool, is mainly used by professionals in a wide array of:
- Mechanical applications
- Engineering
- Automotive Repair
- Maintenance applications
- Oil & Gas Companies
- Aerospace
- Pharmaceutical industries
- General industrial machining.
